Chapter 02. Hearing Regulations

This chapter governs procedures for all contested case hearings of an administrative unit within the Department, with the exception of hearings conducted under the following:

The procedures in this chapter are intended to supplement the procedures required by law, and may not be construed as creating additional or contrary substantive rights.

An administrative unit may promulgate additional hearing regulations to supplement or modify this chapter under the administrative unit's enabling statute.

If a conflict exists between this chapter and the statute or regulations governing an administrative unit, the statute or regulations of the individual administrative unit shall govern.

If a conflict exists between this chapter and the Rules of Procedure of the Office of Administrative Hearings in COMAR 28.02.01, this chapter shall govern.

In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

Terms Defined.

A complaint to an administrative unit may be made by any person or administrative unit.

The complaint shall be in writing, and shall state the facts on which the complaint is based.

In response to a complaint, an administrative unit may take one or more of the following actions:

An applicant who has been notified that a new or renewal license, certificate, registration, or permit, has been, or may be, denied may request a hearing before an administrative unit.

The administrative unit shall hold a hearing to provide the applicant an opportunity to present evidence in support of the application.

An administrative unit shall provide reasonable written notice of a hearing to the parties.

The hearing notice shall contain:

The charging document shall be attached to the notice of hearing or incorporated in it.

The charging document shall contain at least:

Except as provided in §B of this regulation or by prior agreement of the parties, the administrative unit shall serve all notices, orders, and other documents in one of the following ways:

The administrative unit shall send the hearing notice to the person against whom the action is contemplated by certified mail to the person's last known address:

If service of a hearing notice cannot be made under §B of this regulation, notice may be given under State Government Article, §10-209, Annotated Code of Maryland.

Service under this regulation is effective on receipt.

Unless the evidence shows otherwise, a document served by mail under this regulation is presumed to have been received by the addressee 3 days after the date the document was mailed.

Service of a subpoena shall be made under Regulation .12 of this chapter.

A party to a proceeding may:

Any notice, decision, or other matter required to be sent to a party may be sent instead to the party's attorney of record at the attorney's address, and the presumption of service in Regulation .07E of this chapter shall apply.

If a party is represented by an attorney or appears through an authorized representative, all submission of evidence, examination and cross-examination of witnesses, and all objections and motions on the party's behalf shall be made solely by the attorney or the authorized representative.

Been served in accordance with Regulation .07 of this chapter; and

Failed to obtain a postponement of the hearing from the administrative unit under Regulation .10 of this chapter.

An administrative unit may postpone a hearing for good cause only if a written request for postponement is filed with the administrative unit not later than 10 days before the date of the hearing.

If a request for postponement is received later than 10 days before the date of the hearing, the administrative unit shall deny the request unless it determines that there were extenuating circumstances which justified the delay.

The failure of a respondent, claimant, or applicant to retain counsel or to timely request a subpoena may not be considered good cause under this regulation.

A request for postponement based on failure to obtain service on a witness may not be granted if the party has failed to comply with Regulation .12 of this chapter.

On request of a party to a proceeding, an administrative unit shall issue a subpoena requiring the attendance and testimony of a witness and, if requested, the production at the hearing of relevant documents and tangible items in the possession or under the control of the witness.

A request for the issuance of a subpoena shall be made in writing to the administrative unit not later than 10 days before the scheduled hearing date.

If a request for issuance of a subpoena is received by the administrative unit less than 15 days before the scheduled hearing date, the requesting party shall be responsible for service of the subpoena.

A request for a subpoena shall specify:

A subpoena request need not be served on all parties.

Subpoenas may be served by:

Return of service of subpoena shall be made by:

A person may object to a subpoena by filing with the administrative unit, before the time specified in the subpoena for compliance, a motion to quash or for other appropriate relief.

If a person fails to comply with a properly served subpoena, the party requesting the subpoena may apply to the appropriate circuit court for relief.

A quorum of the administrative unit shall be present for the hearing.

The presiding officer, in consultation with counsel, shall determine all procedural and evidentiary issues governed by this chapter and by the Administrative Procedure Act, and may impose reasonable time limitations.

The Maryland Rules of Civil Procedure may be used as a guide in resolving procedural issues governing the conduct of the hearing that are not addressed in this chapter and the Administrative Procedure Act.

The presiding officer may conduct all or any part of the hearing by telephone, television, or other electronic means, in accordance with State Government Article, §10-211, Annotated Code of Maryland.

Order of Proceedings. Absent unusual circumstances, the order of proceedings in a case involving disciplinary charges against a respondent shall be as follows:

In a disciplinary action case which includes a claim against a guaranty fund:

The presenter of evidence, the respondent, and the claimant may cross-examine any witness called by any party during a combined regulatory and guaranty fund hearing.

In an application case the order of proceedings shall be as follows:

After the parties have completed their questioning of a witness, the presiding officer, members of the administrative unit, and counsel to the unit may question the witness.

Upon a showing of good cause that a hearing cannot be completed on the scheduled date, an administrative unit may grant a continuance of the proceeding.

If a party or witness cannot readily hear, speak, or understand the spoken or written English language, and applies to the administrative unit in advance of the hearing for the appointment of a qualified interpreter to assist that party or witness, the administrative unit shall appoint a qualified interpreter to provide assistance during the hearing.

With the approval of the administrative unit, a party who intends to offer the testimony of a witness who cannot readily hear, speak, or understand the spoken or written English language, may arrange for a qualified interpreter to assist the witness.

An interpreter shall take an oath or affirm that the interpreter will accurately translate.

In the hearing of a contested case involving allegations that the respondent violated a law or regulation, the presenter of evidence for the administrative unit shall bear the burden of proving, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the respondent committed the violations set forth in the charging document.

In the hearing of a contested case resulting from the denial, or proposed denial, of a license, certificate, registration, or permit, the applicant shall have the burden of establishing, by a preponderance of the evidence, the applicant's entitlement to the license, certificate, registration, or permit.

In a proceeding involving a guaranty fund claim, the claimant shall have the burden of proving, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the claimant is entitled to be compensated from the appropriate guaranty fund.

The administrative unit shall cause the proceedings to be recorded.

The record need not be transcribed unless requested by a party or the administrative unit.

The cost of a typewritten transcript of any proceeding or part of a proceeding shall be paid by the party requesting the transcript.

Except as provided in §A of this regulation, cameras, tape recorders, and other electronic and photographic equipment of any type are not permitted at the hearing, unless the equipment is intended to be introduced into evidence or used to present evidence.

Has personal knowledge of the facts which gave rise to the complaint;

Has a personal or business relationship with any of the parties or witnesses; or

For any other reason may be unable to act impartially in the matter.

After consideration of the testimony and other evidence, the administrative unit shall issue a written final order setting forth an appropriate disposition agreed to by a majority of the members of the unit who participated in the hearing.

A member who was not present at all parts of the hearing may not vote on the disposition.

The final order shall be issued within 90 days after the record of the proceeding is closed unless the administrative unit gives written notice to the parties that the time limit has been extended.

The final order shall be signed by the presiding officer or a designee, and unless otherwise noted in the order, is final upon issuance.

A copy of the decision shall be maintained in the files of the administrative unit.

Decisions issued by an administrative unit in connection with a particular proceeding shall be mailed to the parties, or if represented by counsel to their attorney, by first-class mail within 3 business days from the date of the issuance of the order.